"Enough, Luna! Why torment me with these shadows of the past?!"
"Is it not because of this day that you hated Hearth's Warming Eve? And why you distasted ponies in the first place before turning over to accept friendship? Because it was the three pony tribes were selfishly arguing over who was the better tribe?"
"Mmm, maybe… Your point?"
"Discord, your friends want to celebrate this day with you. They have no idea that it causes pain and suffering for you. Surely, if you had told Fluttershy this…"
"She doesn't need to know… She has enough on her mind to worry about me… Not after I had done some stupid stuff, especially when I broke her heart when…" he couldn't finish.
But Luna got the point, "When Tirek returned?"
"Betrayal… Simple betrayal… I didn't know she felt that strongly about me… I admired her myself, but I never thought…" he cleared his throat so she wouldn't catch on.
Luna however, knew exactly what he was getting at. He loves her… but is frightened to tell her… Maybe if I show how much she means to him and how much he means to her… it just might help him… "Discord, if she has forgiven you along with all of them, why do feel you shouldn't get in too close?"
"I don't deserve it…"
"Don't deserve it? You gave the last key, did you not? Twilight's purpose would have not been fulfilled without your need for true friends." she stomped her hoof and an image appeared of Twilight in her old library pacing up and down, looking anxious and her hair was a mess. They heard her voice.
"Oh… why hasn't my time come? Celestia, Luna, and Cadence said it would, but it's been half a year and I still don't know what I'm supposed to do!" she screamed and crouched down in sorrow, "My life as a princess is nothing but what it is now! Doing nothing!" she stayed to the floor.
"So?" Discord retorted. "I'm sure that some pony else would have to learn a magic or friendship lesson. It didn't necessary had to be me! And let's not forget I was the one who caused them to give back the elements to begin with!"
"Ah… that is true… but why do you suppose that is…?"
He raised his eyebrow, "What are you getting at?"
"Think, without the return of the elements, the chest would have never appeared to Twilight and her friends. The keys and the lessons would have never existed. Rarity would have stayed ungenerous to her friends; thus, they would have drifted apart… Rainbow Dash would have remained disloyal to her friends and been with the Wonderbolts after all just to fill her dreams and abandon the friends in need… Pinkie Pie would have not gotten over her own pride and her friends would not stay friends with her… Fluttershy would hurt the Breezies instead and her friends would blame her for her ignorance…"
"They wouldn't!"
She continued, "Applejack would have kept lying and her friends would not have known if she was telling the truth or not and could not feel to be friends with her. And as for Twilight… you saw that picture. Would she be better off without you or your key? Without Tirek to trick you, she couldn't choose her friends over the magic she carried. Speaking of which, what would happen if you didn't get out of your stone prison the second time…" She stomped again, showing moving pictures, "Tia didn't show compassion, thus, not leaving the elements with Twilight for a reason… Twilight would not have been given Star Swirl's last spell books, resulting in Twilight never earning her wings… the tree of harmony would have been dying with no way for the elements to return… Tirek would have risen to power eventually and with no chest full of powerful magic… The magic of friendship lost forever and all of Equestria…"
Discord slumped in amazement.
"And do you know how much you have changed a young mare's life?" she stomped, having clips appear of the day he was reformed to the day Fluttershy defended him from being turned to stone again. Next, a clip showed where he had given the animals the power of speech as a gift to her. Then, he saw her writing the letters to him; she looked very happy to be writing them. The events then showed the CMC and Fluttershy through time travel with Discord showing different animals from the past. Then, he and Luna saw his and Fluttershy's tea parties, happily chatting away.
"I don't get it." he said.
"The mare was shy by nature and had no one to talk to, and her friends don't count as much… They have their own duties and things to do. She can't really say much to them, but with you… she can… Even since you've been with her, she is more outspoken than she has ever been in her life. But if you had not sent to be reformed by her…" the picture showed a yellow pegasus going around her yard and tending the animals.
Nothing seems to have changed… he thought.
But when a random pony came up to her and said hello, Fluttershy gave out a squeak of terror, rushed back into the cottage, and barred all the doors and windows. She was panicking in fear.
"Without your constant visits of popping in and out, she wouldn't feel safe around any pony sneaking up on her still. You helped her get over that fear… Now she may roam around and talk to any pony she likes… She's far more outgoing now than she was before she knew you…"
"I… I did that? Really?"
"You did."
This actually made him feel warm inside, but then he made a frown and asked, "But… she would probably forget about me and move on… she find some nice handsome young stallion who would love her unconditionally…" he said with a sigh.
"Wrong again, Discord…" She had another picture of Fluttershy going around town, looking sad and depressed. Everywhere she turned, colts would ask her on a date, but it was always the same answer with her: no.
This intrigued Discord and he asked, "Is this where I wouldn't be in her life?"
"It is where you are in her life every day… She cannot let a stallion into her heart because she refuses for them to be in her heart, not when some pony or some draconequus already has a place in her heart…"
"Luna, are you pulling my leg?!" he showed his goat leg.
"I do not pull. She is sad because she wants a special some pony, but you've not made the first move."
"But… but I thought… I thought she wouldn't want me…"
"Then you must tell her, before it's too late…"
"What do you mean…too late?" he raised his eyebrow at her.
"I didn't want to alarm you, but…" she stomped and they moved to another picture.
He saw his friends outside a room looking upset.
Pinkie cried out, "Oh, Fluttershy!" she bawled away.
This concerned him what Pinkie just said.
"She… she's going to be alright, Pinkie dear…" Rarity comforted her, but she had an unsure look.
"The doctors are doing everything they can!" pointed AJ.
"But…" Rainbow paced, "What if it's not enough?" she had tear-filled eyes.
Discord had a pang in his heart, Rainbow Dash? Crying? Okay! What is going on here?! What's happened to Fluttershy?!
Twilight was in a corner with Spike and embraced him in comfort, both looking just upset as the others.
A doctor came out, "Princess Twilight?"
"Yes?" Twilight sat up.
"I'm… I'm sorry… but we did everything we could…"
"NO!" Rainbow and Pinkie screamed.
Rarity and Apple Jack started sobbing, including Spike.
Twilight was stunned and kneeled to the floor in sorrow, crying, "Oh, Fluttershy… Fluttershy…"
Discord felt his heart shattering into a million pieces and he cried out, "Luna! It isn't true! Tell me it isn't true!"
"This is what will happen if nothing stops the ponyeumonia."
"Ponyeumonia?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" he demanded with fire in his eyes.
"Because you had to understand your worth and the reason you don't like the holiday… And how much you mean to her and how much she means to you… and what does she mean to you, Discord?"
"Everything." he blurted out, "She is the friend who set me straight… That there was more to life than chaos… I'd be lost without her… and that is exactly what I'll be if I don't save her! How much time do I have left?"
"Not much, I'm afraid, considering you took longer than I thought it would. Now go!"
The scene began to fade around them and Discord opened his eyes. With a determined look, he pushed off the covers and took off at the speed of Rainbow Dash.